Apparatus for cleaning gas off-takes of a coke oven battery



July 20, 1965 D. c. COLEMAN ETAL 3,

A APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GAS OFF-TAKES OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY Filed Nov. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Paw/w c: 6046714 4.4-0 6. saw/e005? July 20, 1965 D. c. COLEMAN ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GAS OFF-TAKES OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY Filed NOV. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ID inIH July 20, 1965 D. c. COLEMAN ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GAS OFF-TAKES OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY Filed Nov. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Pan/412 c. CaAE/IAA 45v 6. saw/24505? July 20, 1965 D. c. COLEMAN ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GAS OFF-TAKES OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY Filed NOV. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5

w m m m an 4w a dazawa/l .450 63 .sra wzzse o. c. COLEMAN ETAL 3,196,088

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 20, E965 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GAS OFF-TAKES OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY Filed NOV. 5, 1962 UMNN MN I G J ly 1965 D. c. COLEMAN ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GAS OFF-TAKES OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY Filed NOV. 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 8

FIG. .9

1NVENTOR$ bad/44D .4- 6045M x50 6 SKA/174555? United States Patent 3,1913%? APPARATUS FGR CLEANING GAS SPF-TAKES )F A QGKE EVEN BATTERY Donald C. Coleman, Belie Mead, Ni, and Leo G. Schroeder, New Hyde Park, N.Y., assignors to Aiiied Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed No 5, 1%2, Ser. No. 235,426 13 Ciaims. (Cl. 2%2-241) This invention relates to apparatus for removing carbonaceous deposits from the gas off-takes, particularly the elbows or goose necks of the gas oil-takes of coke oven batteries, i.e., cleaning such elbows of goose necks to remove carbonaceous deposits which, if not removed, would interfere with the flow of gas from the coking chambers into the collector main and the flow of flushing liquor through each uptake pipe, including the elbow thereof and valve body, when such valve body is employed, into the collector main of the coke oven battery.

Heretofore the standpipe or gas off-take elbows of coke oven batteries were cleaned manually. This cleaning task is not only time consuming and arduous but also hazardous because of the location of the standpipes, usually at the sides of the battery on the roof thereof, and the generally unpleasant conditions in the locality of the standpipes, which conditions are particularly acute at the commencement of the cleaning operation when the covers,

normally sealing the access openings in the upper portions of the standpipes, are opened to give access to the interior of the elbows with consequent escape of gases into the atmosphere through these access openings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for cleaning the gas ofi-take elbows of coke oven batteries, which apparatus is simple and economical in construction and effective and reliable in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide such apparatus positioned on the charging car, operable by the charging car operator, to eifect the cleaning of the gas oil-take elbows, which apparatus effects such cleaning in less time than heretofore required so to do manually and does so efficiently to create a positive passage in the elbow for flow of coke oven gas and flushing liquids therethrough into and through the valve bodies and into the collector main. The valve bodies referred to are the valve bodies of conventional liquid seal type valves employed in collector mains of a coke oven battery such as that disclosed, for example, in US. Patent No. 2,759,885, granted August 21, 1956, for controlling flow from the off-takes of the battery into the collector main.

Briefly, the apparatus of this invention comprises an elongated arm having a cleaning head at its outer end and having its opposite end pivotally mounted on a supporting frame on which is mounted a guide member which through a suitable connection with the pivoted arm automatically controls the movement of the cleaning head within the gas off-take. After the operator has opened the cover on the particular gas off-take elbow to be cleaned, the arm is moved outwardly so as to project the cleaning head through the elbow opening into the interior thereof. As the arm continues to move outwardly, the guide member on the frame effects movement of the cleaning head within the gas off-take in a direction su stantially the same as the direction of flow through the portion of the elf-take through which the cleaning head moves. Thus the cleaning head follows the pitch of the elbow interior and cleans away any deposit in its path to provide a passageway of a size at least equal to the area of the head. After this cleaning operation, the motion of the arm is reversed to withdraw the head from the elbow.

3,l%,88 Patented July 20, 1965 CECQ Preferably, the gas off-take cleaning apparatus is mounted upon the coal charging larry. The larry aligns the cleaning apparatus with the gas off-take to be cleaned, usually the oil-take of a coking chamber about to be charged. The operator, by means of a hooked rod, closes the gas oil-take valve to seal oflt the collector main relative to that oil-take pipe and thus prevent entry of air into the collector main. The operator then opens the cover on the gas off-take elbow which seals the access opening for the elbow. The cleaning machine can then proceed to effect the cleaning, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is particularly designed for use in coke oven batteries built with relatively large clearance space between the sides of the gas oil-takes and the sides of the charging car. In this embodiment the cleaning arm is normally maintained in a retracted vertical position when not operative to effect cleaning. After the larry has been moved to the selected gas off-take to be cleaned, the cleaning device is then actuated to move the arm downwardly to an approximately horizontal position and the cleaning head is thereafter or simultaneously with the end of its downward movement projected into the previously opened gas off-take elbow.

In order to prevent the larry from moving, except when the arm is in its vertical retracted position so as to clear the row of gas off-takes, the electrical control circuit for the larry is provided with a limit switch which is actuated by the arm when the latter reaches its vertical position, thereby conditioning the control circuit to permit the larry to move on its rails.

In accordance with another embodiment of this invention where less clearance is provided between the larry and the row of gas off-takes the arm extends in a generally horizontal direction both when eiiecting the cleaning and in its non-cleaning retracted position.

In both embodiments, a carriage is mounted on the larry for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the larry. The cleaner arm is mounted on this carriage and is adapted to extend outwardly therefrom toward the row of gas off-takes. The cleaner arm is provided with a cleaning head of oval or circular configuration on its outer end. Pressure fluid or other motor drive such as electric motor and crank moves the carriage outwardly in the transverse direction and cams or guides control the movement of the cleaner arm during movement of the carriage to change the inclination of the cleaner arm and thereby to guide the cleaning head along or in the same general direction as the interior contour of the gas off-take elbow.

In the embodiment of the invention, involving the arm in vertical non-cleaning position, the carriage is locked stationary in its inward position while the arm is pivoted from vertical to substantially horizontal position. When the arm attains its substantially horizontal position, it actuates a release for the carriage stop mechanism thereby permitting t-he carriage to move outwardly and thereby to thrust the cleaning head through the interior of the gas off-take elbow.

Changing the inclination of the cleaner arm to guide the cleaning head along the interior pitch of the off-take elbow is effected by fixed guide tracks engaged by follower rollers mounted on the arm so as to tilt the arm downwardly as the carriage moves outwardly. By modifying the shape of the arm and the guide tracks, the cleaner can be adapted to clean gas off-take elbows having different interior contours.

Referring to the drawings, which show, for purposes of illsutration, preferred embodiments of the present invention to which, however, the invention is not limited:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention with the cleaner arm shown in its retracted vertical position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 1 but showing the cleaner arm in solid line-s in its initial horizontal position with the successive positions of the cleaning head along the interior contour of the elbow indicated in dash-dot lines;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the cleaning apparatus with the parts in their respective positions as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2;

"FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and shows the stop mechanism for retaining the carriage locked against movement in its inward or retracted position;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the cleaner apparatus as seen from the left side of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the coal charging larry and the gas off-take cleaning apparatus mounted thereon;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention wherein the cleaner arm extends in a generally horizontal direction when in its retracted position shown in dash-dot lines; 7

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation, taken in a plane passing through line 9-9 on FIGURE 8; and FIGURE 10 is a vertical section, partly in elevation of the end of the modified form of cleaning apparatus viewing the same-from the direction indicated by the arrows 1fi10 on FIG. 9.

General arrangement of embodiment of FIGURES 1 t0 6, inclusive Referring first to FIGURE 6, 11 indicates generally a coal charging car or larry which can be of conventional construction insofar as concerns the coal charging portions thereof. As customary, the larry comprises a supporting frame having the usual wheels 11a mounted to travel on rails 11b on the roof of a battery for movement in a direction parallel to a row of gas off-takes, as indicated by the double-headed arrows 110, FIGURE 6. The particular larry 11 shown in FIGURE 6 has 3 hoppers 11d for charging coal into and through the coal charging openings of the coking chambers.

This larry has mounted thereon a cleaning apparatus 12 embodying the present invention. Apparatus 12 comprises an elongated cleaner arm 13 having at its outer end a cleaning head 14. Arm 13 is pivotally mounted at its inner end to a carriage 15 (FIGURE 2) which, as described hereinafter, reciproc-ates between the inward position shown in solid lines and the outward position shown in dash-dot lines at 15a in FIGURE 2. Arm 13 is normally in its retracted vertical position shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 and is pivoted to its horizontal position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2 by pressure fluid cylinder 16 which actuates lever 17 and connecting rod 18 connected to arm 13.

During this downward swinging movement of arm 13, cleaning head 14 will enter the interior of gas off-take valve elbow E (FIGURE 2) through the opening 0 previously uncovered by lifting cover C. Carriage 15 is then unlocked and is moved outwardly (to the left as viewed in FIGURES l and 2) by the continued outward swinging movement of lever 17 actuated by pressure fluid cylinder 16. As carriage 15 is moved outwardly, arm 13 is inclined downwardly to guide cleaning head 14 along the interior contour of gas off-take elbow E. Cleaning head .14 thereby clears away any deposit in its path and provides a passageway through the interior of elbow E of a size at least equal to the area of head 14. At the end of the piston stroke of hydraulic cylinder 16, cleaning head 14 will be located at the lower terminal portion of the sloping surface S of elbow E as shown in das-hdot lines and indicated by the reference number 14b.

During the return stroke of the piston, lever 17 will be pivoted to the right thereby causing carriage 15 to move back towards its original inward position after which continued swinging movement of lever 17 will cause cleaner arm 13 to pivot upwardly until it attains its retracted vertical position shown in FIGURE 1. Arm 13 thereupon :actuates a limit switch 19 interlocked into the larry traction control circuit which is thereby conditioned to permit the larry to move along its rails to the next gas oif-take to be cleaned.

Detailed description of embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive Larry 11, as shown in FIGURE 6, has a platform 28 extending transversely thereof. Cleaning apparatus 12 in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 6 is mounted on the larry contiguous to this platform which gives the operator access to the walkway adjacent to the gas oif-takes on the battery so that the operator can readily open the cover C of the elbow of the oil-take to be cleaned, once the larry is spotted in position. While FIGURE 6 shows a larry with one cleaning apparatus at the left side thereof, for use on a battery having a row of gas off-takes on one side only of the battery, in the case of batteries having gas off-takes on the opposite sides thereof the larry can be provided with two off-take elbow cleaners, one at each side of the larry. Of course, the cleaning apparatus can be placed on the larry in the position most convenient for spotting the larry related to the off-takes to effect the cleaning of the elbows thereof. While not preferred, if desired, the cleaning apparatus 12 can be mounted on aseparate truck or carriage movable on the same rails as the larry and independently thereof.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, cleaning apparatus 12 comprises a frame 29 having a vertical column 3t) fixed to larry 11 and secured at its upper end to a horizontal beam 31. Mounted on the intermediate portion of column 30 is a bracket 32 having a pair of spaced parallel cars 33 for a pivot pin 34 positioned therein. Pressure fluid cylinder 16 is provided at one end with a support 35 pivotally mounted on pin 34-. The opposite end of cylinder 16 has a piston rod 36 projecting therefrom. One end of rod 36 is connected to a piston (not shown) within cylinder 16 and the other end is secured to a lug 37 which is in turn pivotally connected at 38 to an intermediate portion of lever 17. The upper end of lever 17 is pivotally connected at 39 to the outer end of horizontal beam 31. The lower end of lever 17 is pivotally connected at 40 to the upper end of connecting rod 18. The lower end of rod 18 is pivotally mounted on an axle 41 fixedly secured within a sleeve 42 of a bracket 43. The latter is attached to a bracket 44 which is in turn fixed to cleaner arm 13 adjacent its lower end.

Mounted on a pair of horizontally extending support beams 50, 51 (FIGURE 2) are a pair of parallel transversely extending channel-shaped rails 52, 53 (FIGURES 3 and 5). Two of the wheels 5%, 59 of carriage 15 ride within rail 53 and the other [we carriage wheels 60, 61 ride within the other rail 52. A pair of plates 54, 55 (FIGURES 3 and 5) are fixedly secured at their lower edges to rails 52, 53 for supportably mounting above these rails a spaced parallel pair of guide tracks 56, 57, desirably formed of channel members. Guide tracks 56, 57 each have an inner portion running horizontally as at 56a (FIGURE 2) and an outer portion running outwardly and downwardly at a slight inclination as at 5611. A pair of guide rollers 62, 63 are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of axle 41 and ride within guide tracks 56, 57 respectively, for a purpose to be described. Guide tracks 56, 57 constitute in effect cam surfaces and guide rollers 62, 63 maybe regarded as followers engaging said cam surfaces.

The base plate of carriage 15 is tapered forwardly (FIGURE 3) and is provided at its front end with a cylindrical sleeve portion 64. A pair of spaced vertical ribs 65 extend from sleeve portion 64 rearwardly to a pair of spaced cylindrical sleeve portions 66, 67 having fixedly mounted therein an axle 68 on the opposite ends of which the wheels 59, 61 are rotatably mounted. An axle 69 is fixedly secured within the forward cylindrical sleeve portion 64 and has the wheels 58, 6t rotatably mounted at its opposite ends.

Fixed to the inner or lower end of cleaner arm 13 is a bracket 7d (FIGURES 3 and 4) having a pair of rib portions 71, 72 formed integral with a flange portion '73 which is in turn formed inte ral with or suitably joined to a pair of spaced cylindrical sleeve portions 74, 75 pivotally mounted on axle 69 at opposite sides of sleeve portion 64 of carriage 15. The lower end of cleaner arm 13 is thus pivotally mounted for swinging movement about the horizontal flXlS of axle 6%.

The carriage wheel stop mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 89 will now be described with reference to FZGURES 3 and 4. A pair of L- shaped wheel stop members 81 are respectively located to co-act with the two rear carriage wheels 59, 61 and are fixedly secured on a common shaft 82 mounted at its opposite ends in a pair of bearings 83. Although only the stop member 81 co-acting with wheel 59 is shown in FIGURE 4, it will be understood that the other wheel stop member S1 co-acting with the other wheel 61 is identical thereto. Each of the wheel stop members 81 comprises a horizontal arm portion 31a formed integral with a vertical arm portion 8112. A limit bracket 84 may engage the lower surface file of arm portion 31:; to limit the downward swinging movement of the latter about the axis of shaft 82 as shown by the position indicated in dash-dot lines in FIGURE 4.

Wheel stop members 81 are normally maintained in the locking position shown in solid lines by a latch 85 having an upper surface 85b engaging the lower surface 81a of the wheel stop member Slwhich co-acts with carriage wheel 59. latch 35 is slidable within a latch housing 87 provided with a threaded opening receiving a set screw 8% locked in position by a nut 55? and having at its upper end a dog point 96 engaged within a lon gitudinal slot 91 formed in latch 85 to guide the latter for non-rotatable reciprocal sliding movement. Latch 85 is further provided at its outer end with a threaded aperture 92 receiving the threaded end 93 of a rod 94 maintained in assembled relation by a lock nut 95. The opposite end of rod 94 is threaded at 96 and is engaged within a threaded aperture 97 formed in the inner end of a latch actuator 98 and is held thereon by a lock nut 99.

Latch actuator 98 is reciprocally slidable within a housing l-Zlli having a threaded aperture receiving a set screw 101 locked in position by a nut 1N2. Set screw 191 is provided at its upper end with .a dog point 133 projecting into a longitudinal slot ltld to guide latch actuator 93 for non-rotatable sliding movement within housing 1%. Latch actuator 9%; is further provided with a slot 1595 having an inclined cam surface 1% engageable by the rounded end id? of a plunger 1% vertically slidable within a bore formed in an integral sleeve portion 1%? of housing Edd. Plunger N8 is urged downwardly upon engagement by a striker member 1%?" secured to a bracket 11d fixedly mounted on cleaner arm 13. A compression spring fill extends within a recess 112 formed in latch actuator 8 and engages the wall 113 of housing ltlil. Spring 111 normally maintains actuator d3 in the position shown in FIGURE 4 under the tension provided by the Spring.

When wheel stop members 31 are in their locking position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 4-, carriage wheels 59, 51 are engaged by an upwardly projecting abutment portion Sic on each of the stop member arm portions ale. Carriage wheels 59, 51 are thus restrained against rolling in the outward direction (to the left as viewed in FIGURE 4) and carriage 15 is thus maintained locked in its inward retracted position.

When cleaner arm 13 attains its horizontal position, striker element ill? on arm 13 pushes down on plunger 1% which in turn engages inclined cam surface 1% of latch actuator Q3 to move the latter to the left as viewed in FIGURE 4 against the action of compression spring 111. Rod and hence also latch are thus moved outwardly, i.e., to the left in FIGURE 4, until latch surface 85b no longer engages stop member surface 81a to support wheel stop members 81 in their locking position, thereby permitting members 81 to pivot downwardly by gravity toward the released position shown in dash-dot lines. The abutment portions 810 are thereby lowered out of the path of wheels 59, 61 and carriage 15 is then free to roll outwardly along rails 52, 53.

Upon the return movement of carriage 15 to its retracted inward position, wheels 5%, 61 will engage the horizontally projecting abutment portions 81a of arms 8112 so as to rotate wheel stop members 31 clockwise about the axis of shaft 32 as viewed in FIGURE 4, whereupon the outer end of the arm portion 81:: co-acting with the carriage wheel 59 will engage the inclined cam surface 85a of latch 85 to urge the latter outwardly against the action of spring ill until surface tile is again above latch 85 so as to be supported by the latch upper surface 85b. Wheel stop members 31 are thus latched in their locking position.

Referring to FIGURE 1, cleaner arm 13 is formed of a plurality of segments 13a, ldb, 13c, 13d angularly oriented with respect to each other so that the configuration of arm 13 as a whole is curved. .At the junction of segments 13!; and 13c a bracket is fixedly secured to arm 13 an has mounted thereon an actuator 121 adapted to engage the lever 122 of limit switch 19 when arm 13 is moved to its vertical retracted position shown in FIGURE 1.

Cleaning head it can be a strong brush, steel plate, or other suitable wear resistant cleaning member. A powerdiiven brush, for example, a motor driven brush can be used, if desired, although it is preferred to use a stiff metal plate dimensioned to pass through the opening 0 and having a curved or arced lower edge conforming generally to the contour of the lower surface S of the off-take elbow.

In operation, larry 11 is first moved along tracks lllb until cleaning apparatus 12 is in alignment with the particular gas oil-take to be cleaned. The operator of lar-ry 7.1 then stands upon walkway 28 and by means of a hook rod turns off the stream valve in the uptake, closes the gas oil-take valve and opens the cover C of gas off-take elbow E. Pressure fluid is then admitted to cylinder it? to move the piston rod 35 to the left as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2 thereby swinging lever it? about its upper pivot 39 from its initial position shown in FIGURE 1 to its intermediate position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2. Dur ing this swinging movement of lever 17, the lower end of the latter pulls on connecting rod 18 to pivot arm 13 downwardly about the horizontal axis of axle 69 from its vertical retracted position shown in FIGURE 1 to its hori zontal operative position shown in FIGURE 2.

As arm 13 approaches its horizontal position, cleaning head 14 enters the opening 0 of valve elbow E. Striker element 139 then engages plunger $.93 to release the carriage wheel stop mechanism St? and thereby free carriage 15 for rolling movement outwardly along rails 52, 55. As arm 13 approaches its horizontal position, guide rollers 62., ea enter the inner open ends of guide tracks 56, 5'7 respectively.

As lever 17 is swung further outwardly by pressure fluid cylinder 16 from its intermediate position shown in solid lines in FlGURE 2 to its extreme outward position shown in dash-dot lines in this figure and indicated by the reference numeral 17a, carriage 15 rolls outwardly along guide rails 52., 53 while guide rollers 62, 63 run along the inner horizontal portions 56a of guide tracks 56, 57. During i this phase of thewcycle the horizontal position of arm 13 remains unchanged and cleaning head 14 is moved inwardly to the intermediate position shown in dash-dot lines and indicated by the reference numeral 14a.

As carriage 15 continues to roll outwardly along rails 52, 53, guide rollers 62, 63 will enter the outer inclined portions of'guide tracks 57 thereby causing brackets '43, 44 together with arm 13 to pivot slightly about the axis of axle 69 so as to cause cleaning head 14 to follow the downwardly inclined pitch of the nterior contour of elbow E until head 14 reaches the final position shown in dash-dot lines and indicated by the reference numeral 14b. During this movement along the interior of elbow E, head 14 cleans away any deposit in its path and provides a passageway of a size at least equal to the area of head 14.

The pressure fluid system is then reversed to move piston rod 36 in reverse direction thereby swinging lever 17 from the position shown at 17a. through the intermediate position shown in s-olidlines in FIGURE 2 and finally back to its initial position shown in FIGURE 1. During this movement of lever 17, carriage 15 is rolled back to its retracted inward position shown in FIGURE 2 where it will again be locked in position by wheel stop mechanism 811, and then cleaner arm 13 is pivoted upwardly to its vertical retracted position whereupon switch actuator 121 engages lever 122 of limit switch 19. The latter is interlocked into the larry traction control circuit which prevent-s larry 11 from moving along rails 11!) until arm 13 is vertical so as to clear the row of gas off-takes during movement of larry 11. Actuation or" limit switch 19 thus enables larry 11 to travel to a position in alignment with the next gas off-take to be cleaned and the above-described cycle of operation may then be repeated.

In FIGURES 7 to 10 there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein the cleaner arm 213 is in a substantially horizontal position when retracted. This embodiment comprises a frame 229 having a horizontal beam 2319b mounted on a series of horizontal channels 2311c, 23nd, 230e on larry 11. A pair of column members 230, 230a their 23% have their lower ends secured to beam 23Gb and their upper ends fixed to an overhead housing indicated generally by the reference numeral 231. Housing 231 comprises a pair of spaced parallel walls 231a (FIGURE 10) secured along their upper edges to a horizontally extending member 23112. The outer portions (to the left as viewed in FIGURE 7) of walls 231a and member 231b are inclined downwardly as at 2310 and 231d, respectively.

Secured to the oppositely facing sides of vertical walls 231a are a pair of carriage rails 252 and a pair of guide tracks 256 therebeneath. Each of the guide tracks comprises a horizontal inner portion 256a, a downwardly inclined portion 256b, another short horizontal portion 256a, and a downwardly inclined outer portion 256d (FIG URE 7).

v A carriage 215 is provided with a rear axle 268 upon which are rotatably mounted a pair of rear wheels 261 and also a front axle 269 upon which are rotatably mounted a pair of front wheels 2611. A ribbed base plate 220 has sleeves at its opposite ends in which sleeves the axles 268 and 269 are mounted. The upper end of a lever 217 is pivoted to rear axles 268 and its lower end pivoted at 239 to a link 232a pivoted at 23% to a fulcrum bracket 2390 which is fixed to horizontal beam 2353b. The intermediate portion of lever 217 is pivotally connected at 238 to the lug 237 fixed to the outer end of a piston rod 236 having its inner end connected to a piston within a pressure fiuid cylinder 216. The inner end of the latter is provided with a flange 235 pivotally connected at 234 to a horizontally extending beam 232 secured to column The inner end of cleaner arm 213 is pivotally mounted on axle 269 by the spaced sleeves 213' pivoted on axle 269 and fixed to a bracket 21311 on the inner end of cleaner arm 213. Bracket 244 extends downwardly from the inner end of cleaner arm 213; a bracket 243 is fixed to the lower end of bracket 244. Bracket 243 has at its lower end a sleeve bearing 243a in which axle 241 is mounted. Axle 241 has a pair of guide rollers 262 rotatably mounted at its opposite ends. Carriage wheels 2613, 2 51 of carriage 215 ride within rails 252. Guide rollers 262 ride within guide tracks 256 to vary the inclination of brackets 243, 24 i and thereby control the angular inclination of cleaner arm 213.

The retracted position of arm 213 is indicated in dashdot lines at 215a and in this position larry 11 may be moved along its tracks without the cleaner head 214 being engaged by the off-takes or other parts of the battery; the cleaning apparatus is designed and positioned on the larry to accomplish this. When the cleaning apparatus 212 is in alignment with a particular gas oil-take to be cleaned, pressure fluid is admitted to cylinder 216 to move piston rod 236 outwardly (to the left as viewed in FIGURE 7) and thereby swing lever 217 from its initial retracted position shown in dash-dot lines at 217a toward its final position shown in solid lines. Carriage 215 will thus be moved by the upper end of lever 217 from its inward retracted position indicated in dash-dot line at 215a along rails 252 toward its final position shown in solid lines at the lower outer end of the inclined portions 252cof rails 252. During this movement of carriage 215, rollers 262 will ride along guide tracks 256 so as to vary the inclination of arm 213 whereby cleaning head 214 will assume the successive positions indicated at 214a, 2141'), 2140, 214d, 214e until. finally cleaning head 214 reaches the position shown in solid lines at the lower end of the inclined surface S within the interior of elbow E; The cleaning action of head 214 is thus similar to that described above with respect to head 14 of the other modification.

'The pressure fluid system is then actuated to reverse the motion of arm 213, carriage 215, level 217 and piston rod 236 thereby withdrawing cleaning head 214 outwardly of elbow E through the opening 0 until the parts again assume their initial retracted positions shown in dash-dot lines and described above. A limit switch, similar to that shown at 19 (FIGURE 2) can be employed with cleaning apparatus 212 by mounting the switch actuator 121 either on carriage 215 or lever 217. The cleaning apparatus 212 of FIGURES 7 to 10 is used in installations where the clearance space between larry 7 and the row of gas otttakes is less than that for the arrangement shown in FIG- URES 1 to 6, and the clearance space between the side of larry 7 and all other parts of the battery, past which the larry moves, is sutficient to permit movement of the larry with the substantially horizontally disposed cleaning arm in its retracted position without the cleaning head 214 on the end of the cleaning arm projecting from the larry engaging any part of the battery during movement of the larry,

It will be understood that both disclosed embodiments of the invention may be adapted for cleaning various differently shaped interior contours that may be encountered in all types of gas off-take elbows by merely modifying the shapes of cleaner arms 13, 213 and guide tracks 56, 5'7, 256. Instead of the pressure fluid cylinder 16, 216, both. cleaning apparatuses 12, 212 may be actuated by a motor drive and mechanical linkage.

Since numerous modifications of the disclosed embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative, and the invention is not to be limited thereto or to the disclosure herein, including that of the drawings, except as indicated by the appended claims. Thus, for example, an electric motor and crank drive can be used to supply the operating power for the off-take or standpipe cleaner instead of the pressure fluid or hydraulic cylinder shown in the drawings.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for cleaning the gas off-takes of a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a supporting carriage frame, a cleaner arm pivotally mounted on said rame for swinging movement in an up and down direction, a cleaning member on said arm, means for moving said arm to move said cleaning member into said gas off-take, a guide member on said carriage frame, means moveable in said guide member and connected to said arm for pivoting said arm as it moves in said off-take to effect movement of said cleaning member within said off-take in a direction substantially the same as the general direction of flow through the portion of said off-take through which said cleaning member moves, and means for moving said supporting carriage frame and the cleaner arm pivotally mounted on said frame towards and away from the gas off-take.

2. Apparatus for cleaning the elbows of the gas olftalres of a colte oven battery comprising, in combination, a frame, a carriage movably mounted on the frame, a cleaner arm pivotally mounted on the carriage and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom, a cleaning head on the outer end of said cleaner arm, means for moving said carriage toward a gas off-take, a guide member on said frame, and link means moveable in said guide member connected to said arm to move said arm about its pivot and thus change the inclination of said cleaner arm during said carriage movement to move the cleaning head in the same general direction as the contour of the base portion of said elbow in the direction of flow through said elbow.

3. Apparatus for cleaning the elbows of the gas olftaltes of a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocal horizontal movement on the frame, a cleaner arm having an inner end pivotally connected to the carriage and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom, a cleaning head on the outer end of said cleaner arm, means for moving said carriage in said outward direction toward an open gas off-take, a fixed guidevvay on said frame, a link having one end travelling in said guideway and the other end secured to the said inner end of the cleaner arm to move said arm about its pivot and thus move the cleaning head during said carriage movement in a direction conforming with the interior contour of the base portion of said gas 013- take in the direction of flow therethrough.

4. Apparatus for cleaning the elbows of the gas offtalres of a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocal horizontal movement on the frame, a cleaner arm having one end pivotally connected to the carriage and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom, a cleaning head on the other end of said cleaner arm, pressure fluid means for moving said carriage in said outward direction toward an open gas off-take, and means for moving said cleaner arm with respect to the carriage during said carriage movement to move said arm about its pivot and guide the cleaning head along the interior contour of said gas off-take and thereby to remove deposits therefrom, said means comprising guide means fixed with respect to said frame and follower means fixed to said arm and engaging said guide means.

5. Apparatus for cleaning the elbows of the gas offtakes of a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a frame, a cleaner arm mounted for horizontal movement with respect to the frame and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom, means pivotally mounting said arm for swinging movement to an upright retracted position and an outward operative position, means for moving said arm from said retracted position to operative position and into said elbow to effect cleaning thereof, guide means fixed to said frame, and follower means fixed to said arm and engaging said guide means for pivoting said arm during said movement to guide the outer end of said arm to follow the interior contour of the base portion of the gas off-take in the direction of how therethrough.

6. Apparatus for cleaning the elbows of the gas olftakes of a coke oven battery comprising, in combination,

a frame, a carriage movably mounted on the frame, releasable stop means locking said carriage against movement, a cleaner arm mounted on the carriage for movement to an upright retracted position and to a horizontally outward operative position, a cleaning head on the outer end of said cleaner arm, means for moving said arm from said retracted vertical position to said operative horizontal position, means releasing said stop means in response to attainment by said arm of said operative position, means for moving said carriage in said outward direction toward an open gas ofhtake, and means for varying the orientation of said cleaner arm during said carriage movement to guide the cleaning head along the interior contour of said gas off-take.

7. A cleaning apparatus comprising a frame, rails fixed to the frame, a carriage having rollers engaging said rails for movement of the carriage therealong, a cleaner arm having one end pivotally connected to the carriage for swinging movement about a horizontal axis to an upright retracted position and a lower operative position, a clean ing head on the other end of said cleaner arm, a wheel stop member pivotally mounted to the frame for movement to a locked position in engagement with a wheel of said carriage to retain the latter against movement and to an unlocked position, latch means normally operative to maintain said stop member in said locking position, means on said arm engageable With said latch means to release the stop member from said locking position when said arm reaches said lower operative position, means for moving said arm from said retracted position to said lower operative position, and means for moving said carriage along said rails.

8. A cleaning apparatus comprising a frame, rails fixed to the frame, a carriage having rollers engaging said rails for reciprocal movement of the carriage therealong, a cleaner arm having one end pivotally connected to the carriage for swinging movement about a horizontal axis to an upright retracted position and a horizontal operative position, a lever pivotally connected to the frame, means connecting said lever and said cleaner arm and responsive to swinging movement of the lever to pivot the arm from said vertical position to said horizontal position, a stop member mounted on the frame for movement to a locking position to retain the carriage against movement and to an unlocked position, latch means normally operative to maintain said stop member in said locking position, means on said arm engageable with said latch means to render the latter inoperative in response to attainment by said arm of said horizontal position, means for swinging said lever to pivot said arm from said vertical position to said horizontal position, means for moving said carriage along said rails, and

means for pivoting said arm during said carriage movement.

9. A cleaning apparatus is recited in claim 8 wherein said last-recited means comprises guide tracks fixed to said frame, a bracket fixed to said arm and having follower rollers rotatably mounted thereon, said rollers being engageable with said guide tracks.

10. A coal charging larry for a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a wheeled frame, a gas offtake cleaning apparatus mounted on said wheeled frame for cleaning the elbows of the gas-off-takes of the battery, said cleaning apparatus comprising, a carriage mounted on said wheeled frame for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said wheeled frame, a cleaner arm movably mounted on the carriage and adapted to extend outwardly therefrom in a direction toward said gas off-takes, a cleaning head on the outer end of said cleaner arm, means for moving said carriage in a transverse direction toward a gas off-take, and means responsive to movement of said carriage for changing the position of the cleaner arm to guide said cleaning head along the interior contour of said gas oft-take.

11. A coal charging larry for a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a wheeled frame, a gas olftake cleaning apparatus mounted on said wheeled frame for cleaning the elbows of the gas off-takes of the battery, said cleaning apparatus comprising, a carriage mounted on said Wheeled frame for reciprocal movement in a horizontal direction transverse to the direction of movement of said wheeled frame, a cleaner arm having one end pivotally connected to the carriage for swinging movement of the arm about a horizontal axis and adapted to extend outwardly from said Wheeled frame toward the gas off-takes, a cleaning head on the outer end of said cleaner arm, means for moving said carriage toward a gas off-take, guide means fixed to said Wheeled frame, and follower means mounted on said arm and engaging said guide means for varying the angular inclination of the cleaner arm in response to said carriage movement to guide said cleaning head along the interior contour of said gas off-take.

12. A coal charging larry for a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a wheeled frame, a gas offtake cleaning apparatus mounted on said wheeled frame for cleaning the elbows of the gas off-takes of the battery, said cleaning apparatus comprising, a carriage mounted on said Wheeled frame for movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said wheeled frame, a cleaner arm mounted on the carriage for movement to an upright retracted position and a horizontally outward operative position, a cleaning head on the outer end of said cleaner arm, means for moving said arm from said retracted vertical position to said operative horizontal posi-' tion to project said cleaning head into an open gas off-take, means for moving said carriage toward said open gas off-take, and means for varying the inclination of said cleaner arm during said carriage movement to guide the cleaning head along the interior contour of said gas off-take.

13. A coal charging larry for a coke oven battery comprising, in combination, a wheeled frame, a gas off-take cleaning apparatus mounted on said wheeled frame for cleaning the elbows of the gas off-takes of the battery, said cleaning apparatus comprising, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement on said Wheeled frame in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said Wheeled frame, a cleaner arm having one end pivotally connected to the carriage for swinging movement about a horizontal axis to an upright retracted position and a horizontally outward operative position, cleaning means on the outer end of said cleaner arm, releasable stop means retaining said carriage against movement, means for pivoting said arm from said retracted vertical position to said operative horizontal position to release said stop means, means for moving said carriage in a direction toward an open gas off-take, guide means fixed with respect to said Wheeled frame, and follower means engaging said guide means for pivoting said arm during said carriage movement to guide said cleaning means along the interior contour of said gas off-take.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 62 Randall et a1. 15-1041 11/63 Cantieri l53l7 

1. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE GAS OFF-TAKES OF A COKE OVEN BATTERY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORTING CARRIAGE FRAME, A CLEANER ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT IN AND UP AND DOWN DIRECTION, A CLEANING MEMBER ON SAID ARM, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ARM TO MOVE SAID CLEANING MEMBER INTO SAID GAS OFF-TAKE, A GUIDE MEMBER ON SAID CARRIAGE FRAME, MEANS MOVABLE IN SAID GUIDE MEMBER AND CONNECTED TO SAID ARM FOR PIVOTING SAID ARM AS IT MOVES IN SAID OFF-TAKE TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID CLEANING MEMBER WITHIN SAID OFF-TAKE IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF FLOW THROUGH THE PORTION OF SAID OFF-TAKE THROUGH WHICH SAID CLEANING MEMBER MOVES, AND MEANS 